COME ON, AUTUMN!

Hello!

I'm back again with another seasonal project to share.

Someone needs to tell Mother Nature that it's mid-October!  Where I live, it's usually chilly by now and my trees have colorful leaves that are starting to fall.  But as I sit here typing this post, all my windows are open and it feels like late Spring-early Summer.  Only two of my trees are following the calendar.  It's kind of hard to start feeling all cozy and sweaters with a warm breeze blowing in so I decided to make a new Autumn craft to help get me in the spirit of one of my favorite seasons.

Before I share photos, Let me just give you a little background on this craft.  I have a simple frame that I have on my gallery wall in my living room.  I found the frame at a thrift store and backed it in a vintage-old-book-paper-type of DSP that Stampin' Up! used to carry.

I use that frame to house different little banners I have made to display throughout the year.  Today I decided to make a new Autumn banner to hang there.

Here's how I made it.  I took some ivory tags that I've had in my stash for way too long and stamped them with the Hardwood background stamp in Tip Top Taupe.  

Next, the leaves.  I was fortunate enough to get my hands on the Witching Decor Project Kit.  My daughter, daughter-in-law, mom and I had SO much fun putting it together on World Card Making Day! You'll notice there's no link to it.  That's because, sadly, they ran out quickly and won't be getting any more. HOWEVER, don't fret!  You can still make your own gorgeous leaves with the Vintage Leaves Bundle.  Anyway, there were so many leaves left over from the kit that I just grabbed 6 to use for this project.  I added some texture to each leaf by stamping them with the design images from the I Think You're Great stamp set and heat embossing them with Versamark and clear embossing powder.  Then I sponged them in coordinating colors (Tangerine Tango, Cajun Craze and Delightful Dijon) and crumpled them up a bit.

After that, I used my Tombow Mono-Multi glue to adhere them to the tags.  

Because I was still trying to be thrifty and quick, I used some gold chipboard letters I already had in my supplies to spell out Autumn, adhering them also with my Tombow glue.

Now, just because I thought the project could do with a little more color, I pulled out the faceted sequins from the Brights Sequin assortment to accent each tag.

Here's a closeup of the embossed texture and the Old Olive sequin.  LOVE!

 Last, but not least, I used my Gold Metallic Baker's Twine to string all the tags together. And here it is in it's place of honor.

If it doesn't feel Autumn-ish where you live, pull supplies from your stash to make a cute project to bring the season in!

Thanks for joining me at The Table today!

For the Newlyweds....a unique wedding card

Hello!

A few days ago we received a wedding invite.  It was unique in that it was really graphic and trendy. Lots of font design going on. Navy chevron pattern at the top and the text alternated between the same Navy and a mustard-y, saffron-y yellow.  I loved it.  So summery, fresh, and simple.

If I remember right, my friend (the mother of the groom and also the flower designer) told me that Navy and yellow were going to be the colors at the reception as well, which would make sense to send out a coordinated invite, right? So I took the cues from the invite to create a wedding card for them.

I had been itching to play with my new SU! chevron embossing folder and the Blue Ribbon stamp set.
Let me just say a little about the embossing folder.  You get such a deep, crisp impression and I love that.  And the Blue Ribbon stamp set?  I think it's my favorite from the new catalog.  I'm sure you'll see more creations with that little stamp set very soon.

I used Midnight Muse (quickly becoming my new favorite blue) and Starfruit inks.  I love how they contrast with each other, making for a fun fresh feeling.  Makes me feel a little like boarding a boat and enjoying some cool sea air.  We could use some of that right now with our 100 degree temps and many fires blazing through our state!

I used one of my favorite inking/embossing techniques:  Gently press your ink pad into one side of the embossing folder, just inking the design.  Carefully fold it over your card front and run it through your Big Shot.  Inking and embossing in one!  It looks a bit distressed because I accidentally bumped the card before it went through, but it's okay.  It makes it match more now with the distressed image of the ribbon medallion.

Of course, a Cherry Cobbler embossed heart is an appropriate addition to any wedding card.

Oh yeah,  I also used the Itty Bitty Banners stamp set and coordinating Framelits.  Love those too!

Lots of texture and and layers.  I really, really like how this turned out.  I hope the newlyweds do too!

Watch for more of my Blue Ribbon and chevron creations in the near future!

Thanks for joining me at the Table today!

OOPS! and a No-Sentiment Card

First the OOPS!  I was relying on my brain instead of my calendar for the date my project would post.  That's usually never a good idea.  Sorry.  My project will actually go live tomorrow.  I'll try to post the link in the morning.  Come back then. :)

Second, I was asked to make several cards that had no sentiments so that they could be used for any type of occasion.  Sadly, I relied on my brain again instead of writing myself a reminder to photograph them before delivering them to my customer.  But, I did make an extra of one of the designs.

Making cards without a sentiment was definitely a challenge for me.  But it was a fun challenge.  I actually got the layout idea for this card from one of my recent Paper Crafts magazines.  The artist had used a paper doily like you can get at the dollar store but I didn't have any of those.

What I did have was my Hello, Doily stamp from Stampin' Up!  I heat embossed it on vellum using white embossing powder and then cut it out.  Tedious, yes, but I think worth it.  It's so pretty!  The felt flower is from the Sweet Pea offering from Sale-a-Bration a year or two ago.  I only bought one package so I've been clinging to these {my precious ;)} and using them sparingly. I knew they would make a perfect centerpiece to this doily.

What I love about this card is it's versatility.  It can be used for weddings, bridal showers, birthday, sympathy, mother's day (which I will be doing this year), thinking of you, and the list goes on.

Try making a non-sentiment card, if you haven't already.  It's a fun challenge!

See you tomorrow!

Thanks for joining me at the Table today!

Cards Not Chosen and Another Announcement!

These two cards weren't chosen for the Stamping Royalty contest, but that's okay, because they will be forwarded to folks in the military (or their families) to use.  That makes me happy.

Also, I'm hoping you'll come back tomorrow!  I was invited to do a project for a fabulous scrapbook/crafting company and it will go live on their FB page sometime during the day.

I don't have a FB page anymore, but as soon as I get the link, I'll post it here and tell you all about it!

Thanks for joining me at the Table today!

I'm a Slacker & the Spooky Trunk Award

So, I should have done a Copy Cat Thursday post yesterday.....and I forgot.  And then I remembered.  But it was late and I was too tired to go to all the work of turning on the computer and looking for someone's project to copy.  Next Thursday, for sure.....probably. ;)

But I have been crafty.  I'll post the two cards I made soon so stay tuned.

Tonight is the Trunk-or-Treat activity at my ward (church).  Those of us who were in charge this time decided to invite all those bringing their trunks and treats to decorate said trunks for a chance to win the Spooky Trunk Award.  I was put in charge of the prize and was excited to do something fun and different!

I got this cute caramel apple at my new favorite chocolate shoppe.  BTW, I didn't notice he had 3 eyes until I brought him home.  If I had noticed at the store, I would have asked for one with 2 eyes, but oh well, he's still way cute.  He's an alien mummy.  And yes, there is too such a thing. On Halloween.

I've been eyeing (not with 3 eyes) the Frame It stamp set from Stampin' Up! since July and decided to order it.  SO glad I did because the largest frame in the set made a super cute embellishment for the tag.  You can't tell in the photo, but I used a piece of a window sheet right behind the frame to make it look more like a real picture frame.  Looks great in real life!  And isn't that black rose great?  It's from Making Memories, but not sure which line.  I think it adds some spooky elegance.

And here's the prize all completed.  I hope the winner is happy with their 3-eyed mummy gourmet carmel apple! Had to get a Snickers one for the hubs.  He's a snickers freak fan!  It wasn't decorated but oh man does it look delicious....hope it's still around by the time he gets home from school tonight, heh heh heh.

Thanks for joining me at the Table today!

November Card Class

Thought I'd share the cards we're making at my November Card Class.  Can't wait!

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Birthday #13

Bright colors, Martha Stewart Scallop Lace punch, glittery black letters, embroidery floss.  What more can I say? :)

Thanks for joining me at the Table today!

Birthday #12

This card, I'm proud to say, came entirely from my own little brain.  I really, really like it.  I've had the green matchbook-style card base for a few years so I thought I'd pull that out.  Then I started rummaging through my letter stickers.  These are several years old as well, but still look very in fashion.  And you can't go wrong with baker's twine!

Thanks for joining me at the Table today!

Birthday #11

I think this may be my favorite of my cards in this series.  Can you be in love with a stamp?  I think I am.  This Doily stamp is new from Stampin' Up! and I just can't get enough of it!  And embossed against this Island Indigo card base?  L.O.V.E.  I showed this to my mom the other day and she said it reminded her of the doilies my grandma used to crochet.

Thanks for joining me at the Table today!

Birthday #9

This card is a take from this card by the fabulous Kristina Werner.  I love her ideas!  I also love Gray and Yellow together.  ;)

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Birthday #5

I decided to use my new Simply Scored tool from Stampin' Up! to make a few medallion flowers.  They're so fun and easy to make.  I think this card would be fun to give a teenaged girl.

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Birthday #2

Just pulled some random things from my stash for this card. I love using up stuff I already have. :)

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How Many Companies Does It Take To Make A Baby Gift?

Well, let's count them! (in no particular order)

1- Making Memories
2- Stampin' Up!
3- Ranger
4- Plaid
5- Provo Craft
6- We R Memory Keepers
7- My Mind's Eye
8- Darice
9- May Arts
10-Die-Namics
And a couple of others I can't remember :)

Thanks for joining me at the table today!